Rotary explosion-engine.



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Y PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. L. W. LOMBARD. ROTARY EXPLOSIGN ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1'2, 1904. RENEWED AUG. 29, 1906.

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PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. L. W. LOMBARD. ROTARY EXPLOSION ENGINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1964. RENEWED AUG. 29. 1906.

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Lm' WLamban, by m No. 848,665. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

L. W. LOMBARD. ROTARY EXPLOSION ENGINE. APPLIOATIOH FILED 11u12, 1904. nmmwm) AUG. 29. 190e.

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LJW. LOMBARD. ROTARY EXPL'OSION ENGINE. APLIoATIoN PILBD 11u12, 1904. nmmwnn Um ze. 190e.

yNo` 848,665.

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LEVI W. LOMBARD, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.v

ROTARY EXPLOSION-ENGINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application ledMay 12, 1904. Renewed August Z9, 1906. Serial No. 332,511.

T all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LEVI W. LOMBARD, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useul Improvemen ts in Rotary Explosion-Engines, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to hydrocarbonengines, and particularly to that class of engines in which a plurality of cylinders are mounted to rotate about a common axis and in each of which a reciprocating piston operates to actuate a disk secured to a shaft to be driven at an angle to the axis about which said cylinders revolve.

It consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

Of' the drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation or' an engine embodying the features of this invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional elevation on line 2 2'on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation on line 3 3 on Fig. 1. 4 represents a sectional elevation on line 4 4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a sectional elevation on line 5 5 on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents the threepart bearing for the end of the connectinglink secured to the tubular projection of' the reciprocating piston. Fig. 7 represents a sectional elevation of' the disk on the driven shaft and its connecting members. Fig. 8 represents a section on line 8 8 on Fig. 7, the driving member and driven member being shown in axial line; and Figs. 9 and 10 represent elevations of the connecting member between the driving-shaft and the driven shaft.

All oi the sections are looking in the direction indicated by section-lines.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figures ot the drawings.

ln the drawings, 10 represents a suitable frame provided at its left-hand end with bearings 11 for a revoluble member lZf This revoluble member 12 comprises an inner" tube 13, an outer tube 14, a solid extensie?!v the arrows on the various l 15, and an annular ring 16 between the inner end of the ubc and the tube 14. At the opposite end of the tube 14 is an annular e108 l ing-disk 17, between which and the disk 15 ,i g

. an exhaust-ch amber 1S, surrounding the inner tube 13. The tube 13 is provided with a plurality of ports 19, communicating with an inlet-chamber 20, surrounding said tube v13 between the ball-bearings 11. An inlet-pipe 21 communicates with this chamber 2() from any suitable supply.

vWithin the tube 13 is mounted a pistonvalve 22, provided with a plurality of ports corresponding in number and size with the ports 19. The valve 2O is further provided with a stein 23, passing through a plug 24 and surrounded by a spring 25, operating to keep the valve-ports and the ports 19 in line to admit the combustible mixture through said ports from the inlet-pipe 21 into `the interior of the tube 13.

Mounted on the outer end of the tube 13 is a governor 26, operating upon the stem 23 to move the valve 22 lengthwise of said tube to close the ports 19 to agreater or less extent to regulate the admission of the combustible mixture to the interior of said tube 13.

The inner end of the tube 13 communicates with a small chamber 27 between the extension 15 and the annular disk 16, and this chamber is provided with a series of ports through the outer tube 14, which communicates with a central chamber 28. The central chamber 28 communicates, through ports 29, with the interior of each of the cylinders 30 on the opposite side of the reciprocating pistons 31 from the combustion-chambei` 32. Each piston 31 is provided with a tubular projection 33, Whichextends through and has a bearing in the inwardly-extending boss 34 ot the cylinder-head 35, which is provided with a suitable stu'ling-box 36.

Threaded. to the interior of each tubular projection is a cup-shaped member 37, in which rests the ballend 38 ofaconnecting-link 39, the opposite end of which is ball-shaped, as at 40, and mounted in bearings in a disk 41, secured to or formed on a shaft 42 to be driven. The ball end 38 is held in position in the member 37 by the divided followers 37*. The shaft 42 is mounted at an angle to the revoluble member 12 in suitable ball-bearing 43, which arel held in position by the annular disk 44 and locking-nut 45, screwed thereon.

The piston 31 is barrel-shaped and is open at the end farthest removed 'trim the combustion-chamber 32, and at thev end of its stroke to the left, as indicated in Fig. 1, it uncovers the ports 29 to permit the combustible mixture to pass from the tube 13 and lOO IIO

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chambers 27 28 into the cylinders 30 on the opposite side of the piston from the combustion-chamber 32. As the piston 31 moves toward the driven shaft it closes the ports 29 preventing further admission of the cornbustible mixture, and compressing the material already admitted to said cylinder causes it to be forced from said cylinder through the port 46 at the extreme end thereof and then along the passage 47' through the ports 47 again into the cylinder 30 at the op osite end of said piston, whereby the material will be compressed by the return movement of the piston toward the closed end of said cylinder until the piston reaches the limit of its stroke in that direction. At that time the sparking plug 48 will be opposite the secondary plug or igniting device 49, and a current of electricity will pass from said secondary igniting device to the sparking plug 48 and cause the explosion ofthe compressed explosive mixture confined within the combustion-chamber 32 to force the piston to the opposite end of its stroke. As the piston 31 moves toward the driven shaft upon the explosion of the combustible material confined within said cylinder it will at a point near the end of its stroke in that direction uncover the exhaust-ports 50, communicating with a chamber 51 and through ports in the outer tube 14 with the exhaustchamber 18.

Surrounding the tube 14 are a plurality of disks 52, provided with suitable. openings therein. to support the cylinders 30. The disks 52 are parallel with each other and at right angles to the axis of the revoluble members 13 14 15. The chamber 18 communicates, through a plurality of small openings 53, with the spaces between the disks 52, permitting the exhaust .to pass through said openings into these spaces and thence into the atmosphere. As the disks 52 are unconfined and are continually revolving about the axis of the revoluble member 13 15, they serve as a cooling device and at the same time, the exhaust passing through the small perforations 53 and through the spaces between said disks 52, they also serve as a muffler and prevent the noise which is generally common to most hydroc-arbon-engines and which is quite objectionable.

The revoluble member 15 is provided with a bifurcated end, each arm of which has a disk-like portion 54 and has a bearing for a short shaft 55, interposed between said arm 54 and upon which is supported a member 56 of cruciform shape, each arm of which is provided with disk-like portions 57, coacting With disk-like lortions 54 of the bifurcated end of the revo uble member 15 or with disklike portions 58, formed on or secured to the disk 4l. The member 5.6 is provided with trunnions 59, having bearings on the disk 41. This provides for a very satisfactory universal connection between the revoluble member 15 and the' driven shaft 42, which on account of the contact between the disk portions of the various bearings and the disk portions on the cruciform member prevents the undue wear of the various parts, and consequently their getting out of alinement.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The explosive mixture being admitted through the inletpipe 21 passes through the ports 19 and valve 20 into the interior of the tube 13 and thence through the chambers 27 28 of the cylinders 30 when the pistons 31 are at the extreme of movement toward the combustion-chamber 32, and as the pistons 31 move from this position the admission-ports 29 are closed and the material confined within the cylinders 30 is compressed, owing to the limited capacity otthat end of the chamber, owing to the space occupied by the interiorly-projecting boss 46 and the enlarged tubular projection 33 of the piston 31. Upon compression the 'material is forced through the ports 46, passage 47, and the ports 47* to the cylindei` again when the. piston 31 is at its extreme opposite end ofl its stroke. Upon the return stroke the material thus admitted under pressure is further compressed into the inclosed end of the cylinder or combustion-chamber 32, 'when it is exploded by the sparking plug 48 coming in axial line with the auxiliary or secondary igniting device 49 and permitting acurrent to pass therethrough to cause the explosion to occur to drive the piston in an opposite direction, it being obvious that the various pistons are at different positions in their respective cylinders, as indicated by the positions of the tubular projections 33 in Fig. 1. It is obvious also that these reciproeating pistons moving constantly will operate upon the disk 41 to revolve the driven shaft 42 in a well-known manner. lVhile the cylinders and the pistons therein are in a position Where combustion should not occur, it is impossible with this construction for such to take place, inasmuch as the sparking plug is entirely removed from any supply of electricity, and no ignition can possibly occur until each cylinder reaches a point where its sparking plug is in axial line with the secondary or auxiliary igniting device 49, at which time the piston in its cylinder will be in such a position to warrant the explosion of the combustible material contained within the combustion-chamber of that particular cylinder. lt is also obvious that with a revoluble meinber provided with a plurality of disks secured thereto and in which supports are formed f )r a plurality of cylinders at equal distance -from the axis of said revoluble member and with which said cylinders revolve about said axis at considerable speed the air will be caused to pass throughthe spaces between said disks and cause the various heated portions of the engine to be cooled, whilel at ISO the same time the exhaust material passing through the same spaces between the various disks 52 will cause the sound of the exhaust to be thoroughly muffled, which it is very desirable to accomplish. Should the engine secure too great a speed, the governor 26 will operate to move the valve 22 to prevent further admission of the combustible material or will limit the amount of material thus admitted, as desired.

By the construction indicated in the drawings of an inlet for the explosive mixture surrounded by an exhaustchamber which keeps the inlet-chamber thoroughly heated a much better charge is provided than would otherwise be the case. By this construction by using gasolene to start the engine and until the exhaust began to operate'to heat the inlet-passage kerosene may be used as an explosive mixture to continue the operation of the engine.

It is believed that with this description the operation of the engine will be thoroughly understood without further explanation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, reciprocating pistons therefor, means for revolvingsaid cylinders about a common axis, igniting devices for -said cylinders, a plurality of disks surrounding said cylinders and forming a support therefor, and members interposed between said disks and forming therewith a pluralityy of chambers.

2. In an engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, reciprocating pistons therefor, means for revolving said cylinders about a common axis, igniting devices for said cylinders, a plurality of disks surrounding said cylinders and forming a support therefor, a common exhaust-chamber for the cylinders and supports between said chamber'and the spaces between said disks.

3. In an engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, reciprocating pistons therefor, means for revolving said cylinders about a common axis, igniting devices for said cylinders, a plurality of disks surrounding said cylinders and forn'iing a support therefor, a comm on exhaust-chamber, an exhaust-passage from each cylinder to said chamber, and ports between said chamber and the spaces between said disks.

4. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, a plurality of disks mounted upon said member, members interposed between some of said disks and forming therewith a plurality of chambers, a plurality of cylinders mounted in said disks parallel to and revolving with said revoluble member, and reciprocating pistons therefor, and exhaust-ports from each of said cylinders com i municating with one of said chambers.

5. In an engine, the combination of a revl oluble member, a plurality of disks mounted upon said member, members interposed between some of said disks and forming therewith a plurality of chambers, a plurality of cylinders mounted in said disks parallel to and revoluble with said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons therefor, and inletports from each of said cylinders communieating withone of said chambers.

6. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, a plurality of disks mounted upon said member, members interposed beg tween some of said disks and forming therewith two chambers, a plurality of cylinders mounted in said disks parallel to and revoluble with said revoluble member, inlet-ports from each of said cylinders communicating with one of said chambers, and exhaustports from each of said cylinders communieating with the other of said chambers.

7. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, a plurality of disks mounted upon said member, members interposed between some of said disks and forming therewith two chambers, a plurality of cylinders mounted in said disks parallel to and revolving with said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons therefor, exhaust-ports from each of said cylinders communicating with one of said chambers, a sparking plug in each cylinder, and means for transmitting a current to said plug at a point in the revolution of said cylinders.

8. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, a plurality of disks mounted upon said member, members interposed between some of said disks and forming therewith two chambers, a plurality of cylinders mountedin said disks parallel to and revoluble with said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons therefor, inlet-ports from each of said cylinders communicating with one of said chambers, a sparking plug in each cylinder, and means for transmitting a current to said plug at a point in the revolution of said cylinders.

9. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, a plurality of disks mounted upon said member, members interposed between some of said disks and forming therewith two chambers, a plurality of cylinders mounted in said disks parallel to and revoluble with said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons therefor, inlet-portsfrom each of said cylinders communicating with one of said chambers, exhaust-ports from each of said. cylinders communicating with the other of said chambers, a sparking plug in each cylinder, and means for transmitting a current to said plug at a point in the revolution of said cylinders.

10. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, a plurality of disks mounted i upon said member, a plurality of cylinders i passing through and beyond said disks parallel to and rev olving with said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons therefor, an exhaust-chamber in said revoluble member, and exhaust-passages communicating with said chamber from each of said cylinders.

1 1. In an engine, the combination of a rev-- oluble member, a plurality of disks mounted upon said member, a plurality of cylinders mounted in said disks parallel to and revolving with said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons therefor, an exhaust-chamber in said revoluble member, exhaust-passages communicating with said chamber from each of said cylinders, and ports from said chamber to the spaces between said disks.

12. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of disks mounted upon said revoluble member and extending throughout the length of the coinbustion-chaniber in said cylinders for which they form a support, a ieciprocatiiig barrel-piston for each cylinder provided with a tubular projection, a bearing in the end of said cylinder for said tubular projection, a driven shaft at an angle to said revoluble member, a disk on said driven shaft, and connectors secured to said disk and provided with bearings in the interior of said tubular projections of said pistons.

1.3. In ari engine, the combination of a revoluble member having a bifurcated end each arm of which is provided with a disk-like portion, a member of cruciform shape mounted in said bifurcated end and having trunnions supported thereby, a driven shaft, a disk thereon, trunnion-l)earings on said disk provided with disk-like portions contacting with other disk-like portions on said cruciform member, a plurality of cylinders mounted upon and revoluble with said revoluble meinber, reciprocating pistons therein, and connectors between said disk and pistons.

14. In an engine, the combination of a hollow revoluble shaft. a plurality of cylinders supported on said shaft by a plurality of thin parallel disks and revolving therewith, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, an inletchamber, ports communicating between said inlet-chamber and the hollow passage wit-hin said shaft, and ports communicating between said hollow passage and said cylinders.

1.5, In an engine, the combination of a hollow revoluble shaft, a plurality of cylinders mounted on and revolving with said shaft, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, an inlet-chamber, port-s communicating between said inlet-chamber and the hollow passage within said shaft, other ports communicating between said hollow passage and said cylinders, and a valve for regulating theopening of said inlet-ports.

16. In an engine, the combination of a hollow revoluble shaft, a plurality of cylinders mounted on and revolving with said shaft, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, an inlet-chamber, ports communicating between said cylinders and the hollow passage within said shaft, and a valve in said hollow passage for regulating the opening of said ports.

17. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble shaft, a plurality of cylinders mounted on and revolving with said shaft, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, an inlet-chamber surrounding said shaft, 4a cylindrical chamber within said revoluble shaft, a piston-valve in said chamber provided with a series of openings corresponding with the ports through said revoluble shaft, and means for reciprocating said pistoii-valve to open and close said ports.

18. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble shaft, a plurality of cylinders mounted on and revolving with said shaft, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, an inlet-chamber surrounding said shaft, a cylindrical chamber within said revoluble shaft, a piston-valve in said chamber provided with a series of openings corresponding with the ports through said revoluble shaft, means for reciprocating said piston-valve to open and close said ports, a spring for moving said valve in one direction, and governor mechanism for moving said valve in the opposite direction.

19. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble shaft, a plurality of cylinders mounted on and revolving with said shaft, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, an inlet-chamber surrounding v'said shaft, a cylindrical chamber within said revoluble member, a roo piston-valve in said chamber provided with a series of openings corresponding with the ports through said revoluble member, means for reciprocating said piston-valve to open and close said ports, and governor mechan- 1u 5 ism for controlling the movement of said valve.

20. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, an inlet-chamber surrounding said revoluble member, a central chamrio said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons i i 5 in said cylinders, and a chamber communicating with each of said cylinders and said central chamber.

2 1. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble member, an inlet-chamber surroundizo ing said revoluble member, a central chamber within said revoluble member, valve-controlled ports communicating between the inlet-chamber and central chamber, a plurality of cylinders supported by and revolving with i z 5 said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, a chamber communicating with each of said cylinders and said central chamber, an exhaust-chamber within said revoluble member, and a passage communi- 13o of cylinders supported by and revolving with 4said revoluble member, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, a chamber communicating with each of said cylinders and central chamber, an exhaust-chamber within said revoluble member, a passage communicating with said exhaust-chamber and with each of said Cylinders, a plurality of disks mounted on said revoluble member and supporting saidcylinders, and ports communicating with said exhaust-chamber and the spaces between said disks.

23. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble tubular member, a plurality of cylinders parallel thereto mounted on and revolving with said tubular member, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, and an inlet and exhaust passage within said revoluble member one within the other.

24. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble hollow shaft, a tubular member surrounding said shaft and forming therewith an exhaust-chamber, a plurality of thin -parallel disks surrounding and extending -throughout the length of said tubular member, a plurality of cylinders extending through said disks, reciprocating pistons therefor, members interposed between some of said disks and forming two chambers, ports communicating between the exhaustchamber and one of said chambers, ports communicating between the other chamber and the interior of said shaft, and .ports communicating with both of said chambers and the interior of said cylinders.

25. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble hollow shaft, a tubular member surrounding said shaft and forming therewith an exhaust-chamber, a plurality of thin parallel disks surrounding and extending throughout the length of said tubular member, and ports communicating between said exhaust-chamber and the spaces between said disks.

26. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble hollow shaft, a tubular member sur,- rounding said shaft and forming therewith an exhaust-chamber, a plurality of thin parallel disks surrounding and extending throughout the length of said tubular member, ports communicating between said exhaust-chamber and the spaces between said disks, a plurality of cylinders extending through said disks, reciprocating pistons therefor, members interposed between some of said disks and forming two chambers, ports communicating between the exhaustchamber and one of said chambers, ports communicating between the other chamber and the interior of said shaft, and ports communicating with both of said chambers and l the interior of said cylinders.

27. In an engine, the combination of a revoluble hollow shaft, a tubular member surrounding said shaft and forming therewith an exhaust-chamber, a plurality of thin parallel disks surrounding and extending throughout the length of said tubular member, ports communicating between said exhaust-chamber and the spaces between said disks, a plurality of cylinders extending through said disks, reciprocating pistons therefor, members interposed between some of said disks and forming two chambers, ports communicating between the exhaustchamber and one of said chambers, ports communicating between the other chamber and the interior of said shaft, ports communicating with both of said chambers and the interior of said cylinders, and means for regulating the admission of combustible to said cylinders through said hollow shaft.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 5th day of May, 1904.

LEVI W. LOMBARD. Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBARD, EDWIN T. LUCE. 

